One of the most highly-anticipated matchups of Week One of the 8-man football season will feature the Winfield-Mount Union Wolves, as WMU travels tonight to take on a playoff team from last season in Central City.

The Wolves have plenty of excitement surrounding this year’s team after they were ranked fourth in the preseason state media poll. After going 6-4 last season, Winfield-Mount Union bring back most of its 2022 roster, including senior stars Cam Buffington and Abram Edwards.

Buffington is coming off a season where he ran for nearly 1,500 yards and 25 touchdowns while also scoring six receiving TDs on offense. The Iowa commit also had 95 tackles on defense last fall and returned three interceptions for scores.

Edwards, who will play at Army after this season, had 731 yards from scrimmage and 13 offensive touchdowns while leading the Wolves with 13 tackles for loss and six-and-a-half sacks. WMU also brings back starting quarterback Cole Milks, while fellow senior Eli Miller will be a featured part of the offense again.

On defense, Winfield-Mount Union also returns junior Cooper Buffington, while senior Carter Loyd will join Edwards, Milks, Miller and Cam Buffington as key pieces among the linebackers and defensive backs.

WMU has a blockbuster opponent in Week One. Central City is the third-ranked team in 8-man heading into the season and went 8-2 last year before losing to WACO in the second round of the state playoffs.

Senior running back Aiden Klostermann returns after rushing for over 1,200 yards and 20 TDs, and the Wildcats bring back one of the state’s best defensive players in senior Mekhi Benton, who piled up 19 tackles for loss and 14 sacks last season. Kickoff of Winfield-Mount Union against Central City in a battle of preseason top-five teams is set for 7 o’clock this evening.